C & S Pastor Beaten To Stupor By Rivers State Police ACP In Lekki Lagos Over Land Dispute

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Rivers State, Dr. Emmanuel Eze has been accused of assaulting a Lagos pastor, Johnson Dominic over land dispute.

Dominic, the pastor in charge of New Jerusalem Parish of the Celestial Church of God, Ogunse, Onosa Avenue, Ibeju Lekki, is currently being treated at a hospital in Jakande following the alleged attack.

Speaking from his hospital bed Wednesday, Dominic alleged that the ACP and four of his men stormed his premises in Monday and dragged him on the floor.

According to him, he was beaten to a pulp because he refused to relinquish the plot of land he bought from the ACP at N1.2 million without a refund of his money.

Dominic who claimed to have known that ACP for some years, said he was looking after about 16 plots of land the police boss bought in the area.

Despite a plot of land at the area being sold for about N700, 000, Dominic claimed he paid a million naira and later added N200,000 to get one of the ACP’s plot beside his church.

However, he alleged that the police boss turned around and demanded more money from him, a demand he was not willing to fulfil.

Following his refusal to pay more money, the pastor alleged that the ACP threatened him to leave the plot of land and accused him of encroaching into his property.

He said:

“What happened was that I was in the church around 5pm, attending to the people coming for prayers. I saw the ACP and his convoy. They beat me up and dragged me to the floor because I demanded a refund of my money if he insists on getting back the plot of land he sold to me.

“We had known each other for some years. The ACP bought 16 plots of land beside my church and he asked me to take care of it. Later, the ACP said he was going to sell six plots and I should get buyers for him. He said he was selling each for N1m.

“I asked him to map out the land, so that people could buy. I told him I needed a plot beside my church so that one of my members could use it for a mechanic’s workshop.

“Ordinarily, lands sell for N700,000 in the area, but he asked for N1m and I paid him. I paid the money in February last year. He later said he was not selling the land again for N1m and he would demand N1.2m, which I balanced him N200,000.”

But Eze denied the allegation, insisting that neither he nor the four pastors who went to the site with him touched the victim. (The Nation)